American tourists find ‘promised land’ when moving to Italy

Previously, when they lived in Miami, USA, couple Gaston and Norma Galella almost had to use a car to go anywhere. But since moving to the city of Rimini, Italy, with their two young children and pet dog two years ago, they have become “fans” of bicycles. The destinations of this middle-aged couple are often local beaches, rural areas of the Emilia-Romagna region in the north of the country. Even though it is a small city, Rimini is still highly appreciated by two American tourists for its full amenities.

Their favorite destinations include the Fellini Museum castle and the paths at Parco XXV Aprile – a park connected to a 2,000-year-old Roman bridge.

Gaston and Norma are both Argentines and moved to the United States when they were children. Currently, Galella and his wife say their life is better than when they were in America. Europe is truly their promised land.

“We lived in America for a long time but never really felt like we were Americans,” according to Norma.

The city of Rimini is famous for its fine sand beaches and ancient architectural works such as Arco d’Augusto, which is considered the oldest surviving Roman Arc de Triomphe. The Galella family admitted that previously, moving from the US to Italy was never in their plans. They had never even heard of the city. But when they arrived, the two Americans realized that living in Rimini was a blessing.

In 2024, the Galella family has a life that outsiders would rate as “wonderful” in Miami. They run a construction renovation company together and have favorable careers. However, they always feel that this is not a suitable environment to raise children.

A trip to Italy to visit Gaston’s relatives (Gaston’s grandfather immigrated from Italy to Argentina) changed everything. The couple almost “fell in love with this city at first sight” and made plans to move.

“The culture in Rimini is like Argentina, I always feel like I’m coming home,” Norma said about life in Italy. In Rimini, the couple even met and talked to more people “than in their whole life in Miami”.

The couple admitted that they were once immersed in the American Dream – a life-changing dream in America that their grandparents and parents had passed through, succeeded and “fully lived that dream”. But they also realize the price they have to pay for this dream life. “It’s just the lifestyle, the pressure and the stress,” Norma said.

They want their children to have a true childhood, free from pressure and anxiety from the American education system. Moving when the children are young also makes the adjustment process easier. The children were excited about their parents’ plans leading to a smooth transition.

However, finding a job in Italy is not easy. They are not yet fluent in Italian for suitable jobs, and for jobs that do not require much communication, they do not have enough experience. Therefore, in the beginning, the couple had a “quite unstable” life, according to Norma.

After about a year and a half living in Italy, they decided to sell their house in Miami. With more than half a million dollars in hand, Galella and his wife bought a house and renovated it into a two-story, three-bedroom house. They also reopened the company they had previously worked in the US, setting up a new home office.

What makes the Galellas love the city of Rimini is the slow pace of life and the balance between work and life of the locals.

The couple also likes being able to buy fresh seasonal food, the low cost of living, and appreciates the local medical system because they always feel secure that they “won’t go bankrupt because of hospital bills.” Low living costs are also an advantage.

Rimini’s location also makes it easy for the Galella family to move around Italy and Europe.

Although they have adapted quite well, they still have difficulty with language. “The more we learned, the more we realized how little we knew,” Norma said.

They also humorously mentioned Italy’s “unbelievable” administrative procedure system because naturalization is not difficult. Norma has a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno), allowing her to live and work here, and is eligible for citizenship after passing a language test. Their two children automatically became Italian citizens after Gaston was granted citizenship.

The Galella family has not returned to Miami since leaving. Although they miss relatives and friends, they often welcome visitors, which makes adjustment easier.

“My family came here and realized why the couple decided to move to Italy,” Norma said.

After two years in Italy, the Galella family has changed a lot. They feel happier and more connected because they can spend more time together.

Moving to Italy has brought big changes for their children – who are having a childhood similar to what Gaston and Norma experienced in Argentina.

“It was a big turning point for the children, learning many things. We are living a much better life than before,” Norma said.